Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates (Read 448890 times)

mr. mark · « **Reply #560 on:** 06/30/2011 03:17 pm »

New pic of COTS 2 first stage and interstage at the cape.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #561 on:** 06/30/2011 04:19 pm »

Where did you find that?

ugordan · « **Reply #562 on:** 06/30/2011 04:53 pm »

Here: http://www.universetoday.com/87120/spacex-seeking-tweets-from-the-final-frontier/

mr. mark · « **Reply #563 on:** 06/30/2011 05:03 pm »

Well, at least we know that the first stage and interstage arrived at the cape. As far as the interstage and the waiting period until the second stage arrives, I remember Jim expressed some concern about the interstage becoming slightly, what is the word, out of shape so that the second stage will not fit properly. Is this still a concern and what of the delays concerning the second stage. It may have to do with weld issues that were brought to light about a month or two ago. I wonder where Spacex is in the process with the second stage at this point?

ugordan · « **Reply #564 on:** 06/30/2011 05:06 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 06/30/2011 05:03 pm

Well, at least we know that the first stage and interstage arrived at the cape.

We've known that for two months now.

mr. mark · « **Reply #565 on:** 06/30/2011 05:15 pm »

Yes, I know ;p I was being sarcastic on that line. It seems that Spacex has become a little bit withholding of their information output as of late. I guess that's ok for a number of reasons. They don't owe the interested public anything anyways. Let's hope for a big update when they get a chance. What I'd like to see is a picture of the trunk with unfurled solar panels. That would be nice.

baldusi · « **Reply #566 on:** 06/30/2011 05:21 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 06/30/2011 05:03 pm

As far as the interstage and the waiting period until the second stage arrives, I remember Jim expressed some concern about the interstage becoming slightly, what is the word, out of shape so that the second stage will not fit properly.

The Falcon 9 is supported on a mechanism that makes it very easy to turn it over the long axis. Standard practice should be to store it in different rotations to avoid any of those problems.
Someone said that the second stage should be finishing it's acceptance testing soon.

ugordan · « **Reply #567 on:** 06/30/2011 07:08 pm »

Well, this was posted relatively quickly. June 28, 60s test of F9-03 second stage:

mr. mark · « **Reply #568 on:** 06/30/2011 07:18 pm »

Great to see that there has been progress and that the second stage is back on track (at least from the video it looks that way). Looking forward to it's arriving soon at the cape.

baldusi · « **Reply #569 on:** 06/30/2011 07:31 pm »

How long does it take to send to Hawthorne, refurbish and send to the Cape? One month? Should be ready to launch by October, then? The long pole should be Dragon, then.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #570 on:** 06/30/2011 07:34 pm »

I'm not sure if they have to refurbish it at Hawthorne; the second stage engine is regeneratively and radiatively cooled. Maybe they can do the work they need to at the Cape, or do you have evidence to the contrary?

For these COTS demo flights it was always known that the long pole would be the spacecraft, not the launcher.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #571 on:** 06/30/2011 09:11 pm »

AIUI, the stage goes directly to the Cape. To put it simply, it would be counter-productive to "refurbish" the engine or stage after it has been accepted. The nozzle extension is not tested and is bolted on afterward.

ugordan · « **Reply #572 on:** 07/01/2011 08:49 am »

Quote from: ugordan on 06/30/2011 07:08 pm

June 28, 60s test of F9-03 second stage:

Looking at this, I do believe the 2nd stage overall is a bit longer than the previous two stages. Whereas they had the Dragon trunk bolted to the top of the stage right next to the LOX vent, the vent appears to be about half a meter below the clamps that hold on to Dragon's trunk (and above which is the cap I guess for conditioned air for avionics in the test setup). Since it's safe to assume the vent wasn't moved lower, a short barrel extension is the conclusion.

That's probably the reason the recent image of the stage in production appeared longer than "usual".

Dave G · « **Reply #573 on:** 07/04/2011 02:05 am »

If I remember correctly, the scenario for separate COTS2 and COTS3 flights would have COTS3 in early 2012.

And yet here
http://www.spacex.com/shuttle.php
it says:
"Later this year, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft will make their first flight to the ISS in preparation for a series of 12 cargo missions to the ISS."

Does this imply that NASA has approved the combined COTS2/3 mission?

sdsds · « **Reply #574 on:** 07/04/2011 02:19 am »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 06/30/2011 09:11 pm

AIUI, the stage goes directly to the Cape. To put it simply, it would be counter-productive to "refurbish" the engine or stage after it has been accepted. The nozzle extension is not tested and is bolted on afterward.

If it ain't broke, don't refurbish it, eh?

One day to get the engine safe to transport; one day to load; two days in transit; one day to unload. If that were the schedule, it would be unloaded today (July 3). Is SpaceX capable of moving that fast?

Jason1701 · « **Reply #575 on:** 07/04/2011 02:20 am »

Quote from: Dave G on 07/04/2011 02:05 am

If I remember correctly, the scenario for separate COTS2 and COTS3 flights would have COTS3 in early 2012.

And yet here
http://www.spacex.com/shuttle.php
it says:
"Later this year, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft will make their first flight to the ISS in preparation for a series of 12 cargo missions to the ISS."

Does this imply that NASA has approved the combined COTS2/3 mission?

No. The major COTS 2 objective is ISS rendezvous, which is "a flight to the ISS" even if the vehicle doesn't go on to berth.

psloss · « **Reply #576 on:** 07/04/2011 03:40 pm »

Not a huge surprise that Mr. Suffredini (ISS Program Manager) was asked about COTS status in the Shuttle/ISS briefing on Thursday. Nothing definitive on a decision or a launch date, but I still found it interesting:

The Q&A on that starts at a time tag of about 16m15s into the YT clip; the URL to paste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=975s

(Embedded link wipes the time tag.)

Edit: there was another little bit at the end...second question starts about here (78m54s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=4734s

Answer for that begins around here (82m40s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=4960s

RocketEconomist327 · « **Reply #577 on:** 07/04/2011 07:17 pm »

Quote from: psloss on 07/04/2011 03:40 pm

Not a huge surprise that Mr. Suffredini (ISS Program Manager) was asked about COTS status in the Shuttle/ISS briefing on Thursday. Nothing definitive on a decision or a launch date, but I still found it interesting:

The Q&A on that starts at a time tag of about 16m15s into the YT clip; the URL to paste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=975s

(Embedded link wipes the time tag.)

Edit: there was another little bit at the end...second question starts about here (78m54s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=4734s

Answer for that begins around here (82m40s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSz0JifzWSU#t=4960s

So in other words, we are waiting on NASA and NOT SpaceX.

This is great news.

VR
RE327

ugordan · « **Reply #578 on:** 07/04/2011 07:22 pm »

Quote from: RocketScientist327 on 07/04/2011 07:17 pm

So in other words, we are waiting on NASA and NOT SpaceX.

I don't know how you came out with that conclusion.

Prober · « **Reply #579 on:** 07/05/2011 03:09 am »

Quote from: ugordan on 07/04/2011 07:22 pm

Quote from: RocketScientist327 on 07/04/2011 07:17 pm
So in other words, we are waiting on NASA and NOT SpaceX.

I don't know how you came out with that conclusion.

I agree with you on this. Only thing waiting will be the real resupply missions.

I found a bunch of items from that video and had to turn it off after the bit 31 min or so into it. He is talking about the layoffs as a possible gain for the commerical business. I understand his point of experienced people but don't think he understands the world outside of his NASA office.

Today I was reading about a aerospace firm that started to rehire people. They weren't looking at "experienced people" but bringing in new college grads.